Standing Up for Ontario on Trade

We are standing up for Ontario businesses and workers on trade issues and helping our businesses find new and diverse trade opportunities

Trade is a key part of Ontario’s economy. Exporting supports one in five Ontario jobs.

In 2014, you elected us to build Ontario up. Since then, the Ontario Liberal government has developed a Global Trade Strategy to help Ontario businesses boost exports and succeed in a global economy. Government trade missions have generated exports, investments and partnerships that have created nearly 3,000 jobs in Ontario.

But we are hearing from people that we need to do more. The outcome of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations is uncertain. Canada is part of the new Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CP-TPP) and the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), two new free trade agreements that will result in increased opportunities in some sectors while presenting new challenges in others. US state-level actions could hurt Ontario businesses.

That’s why the Ontario Liberals are standing up for Ontario businesses and workers. We are:

Fighting for Ontario’s interests in the NAFTA negotiations, including meetings with US elected and non-elected officials

Calling on the federal government to provide transitional funding for Ontario auto and agriculture businesses and workers affected by the CP-TPP

During the current softwood lumber dispute, continuing to support the forestry sector’s productivity, innovation and access to new markets through the Forestry Growth Fund

Dealing with US states that unfairly limit Ontario companies’ ability to bid on contracts, including bringing in a regulation to level the playing field in response to New York State’s Buy American legislation